Do You Have a Pet Emergency Preparedness Plan?

Developing a pet emergency plan alleviates some of the stress when dealing with forces of nature.

Whether it be a superstorm, polar vortex, tornado or flood, disasters can cause chaos and turn your world upside down in a matter of minutes.

Having a plan in place alleviates some of the stress when dealing with an unfortunate circumstance. You likely have an emergency plan that your household knows and practices, but what about your furry family members?

Check out these tips to create a disaster plan for your pets.

Be prepared

• Keep pet identification current

Humane Society of Indianapolis community outreach and education program manager Rebecca Warren says one of the most important steps in creating a pet emergency plan is to make sure your pet has proper identification.

“Most people have a pet microchipped, but don’t update the information,” she says. “When you need to identify or locate a pet, you’ll need it.”

In addition to microchipping, make sure your pet wears a collar with its name and your correct contact information. Disasters can be traumatizing experiences for pets, and if they somehow flee, this step will be crucial.

• Stay up to date on vaccinations

If you need to take your animals somewhere to be boarded, they’ll need to be up to date on shots, says Joette White, president of Park Cities Pet Sitter in Dallas. Warren warns that if you seek shelter somewhere that allows pets, your animals could be exposed to a lot of different illnesses.

• Designate an emergency contact

White says you should have an emergency contact and know your neighbors. She used the Boston bombings as an example of a time when travel was restricted, and having someone nearby to care for your pets was paramount. “You can’t prepare for everything, but you try to prepare as much as you can,” White says.

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Have an escape plan

• Know your relocation options

Lori Mendelsohn Thomas, owner of Wisconsin Pet Care in Racine, recommends you maintain relationships with doggie day cares, kennels or boarding facilities so you’ll have somewhere to take your pet in a time of need. White adds that you should call nearby hotels and make a list of the ones that allow animals.

• Make an evacuation kit

The Humane Society of the United States recommends preparing an emergency kit with items like kitty litter and pet food, and keeping it close to your door in case you need to leave with the pets in a hurry. Mendelsohn Thomas suggests checking the stored food in your kit regularly to make sure it hasn’t expired.

Identification, vaccination and emergency contact information are all important parts of a preparedness plan. (Photo by LunahZon Photography)

Hunker down

• Identify your safe location

Identify and prepare a safe space in your house in case of emergency. “You should be prepared and one step ahead by knowing what your safe space is and how much space is available,” White says.

• Have leashes and carriers ready

If you plan to stay home, White recommends having animals on leashes or in carriers in case the situation worsens and you need to leave at a moment’s notice. “It depends on your pet, but you’ll want to do whatever makes it easiest to be mobile,” she says.

Search and rescue

If you aren’t able to make it home due to an emergency situation, Warren recommends calling your local animal control facility to ask if they can check on or retrieve your pets.

• Locating a lost pet

If a pet gets lost amidst a tragedy, Warren says to share a picture of your pet with local rescues and shelters, list your lost pet on social media and online community boards, and check local shelters to see if your pet’s there.

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Communication is key

White says establishing your pet plan and running through it regularly with your family — just like you would with plans for your own safety — will ensure your household knows what to do should a disaster strike.

In addition to family members, Mendelsohn Thomas recommends also communicating the plan with your pet sitter, neighbor and emergency contact.

Editor's note: This is an updated version of a story originally posted Jan. 20, 2014

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